Trump Reverses Iran Strikes for Potential Deal
Trump Pulls Back Iran Strike Threats, Seeks Deal While Tehran's Approval Remains Unconfirmed
Key Points
Trump said “documents” for the framework agreement were still being finalized and that the paperwork process should complete “in the coming days,” while suggesting a possible signing in Europe as early as the weekend.
When asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had already agreed, Trump said it was “his understanding” that the supreme leader had agreed.
Trump’s remarks tied the timing of the signing to his own schedule: he said he would not be able to attend himself and that Vice President JD Vance could, as Trump planned to celebrate his 80th birthday in Washington and then travel to France for the G7 summit.
Bloomberg reported Trump pulled back strike threats hours after he threatened to hit Iran “very hard” and “seize its oil infrastructure,” framing the reversal as coming after talks aimed at a negotiated end to the war.
Even as Trump suggested a deal was near, Bloomberg cited the Iranian outlet Fars as saying Iranian leaders had not yet approved the text of any agreement with the United States.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has called off planned military strikes on Iran, saying a "great settlement" is within reach after negotiations reached the "highest level of Iranian leadership." Bloomberg reported the reversal came hours after Trump threatened on Truth Social to hit Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT" and seize Kharg Island — Iran's main oil export terminal.
Trump said a framework agreement could be signed in Europe as early as this weekend, with Vice President JD Vance set to attend in his place. But Middle East Eye cited Iranian outlet Fars as saying Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet formally approved any text — leaving the deal unsigned and unconfirmed.
From Seize-the-Oil-Fields to 'Great Settlement' in Hours
The reversal unfolded at a whiplash pace. Early Thursday morning, Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. would take "total control" of Iran's energy market and seize Kharg Island. By 1:45 PM ET, he posted again saying he had "cancelled the scheduled strikes" because talks had reached the highest levels of Iranian leadership, according to Seeking Alpha.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said a deal was "fully negotiated" and Iran just needed to "sign the paper." When asked if Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had agreed, Trump said it was "his understanding" that Khamenei had approved. That claim has not been confirmed publicly by Tehran, The Hill reported.
A 100-Day War: How the U.S.-Iran Conflict Reached This Point
The war began February 28, 2026, after U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint that carries roughly 25% of the world's seaborne oil. Since April, the U.S. has maintained a naval blockade costing Iran an estimated $500 million per day in lost oil revenue, according to Reuters.
Tensions spiked again on June 9 when an Iranian-linked group shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait. The U.S. launched two rounds of strikes on June 10. Iranian forces retaliated against U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The war hit its 100th day on June 1, 2026, per CSIS.
Oil Prices Drop Below $90 as Markets Cheer Canceled Strikes
Global markets responded quickly to the news. Crude oil prices, which had spiked above $100 per barrel amid escalation fears, fell below $90 per barrel after Trump announced the canceled strikes. Stocks rose. Reuters reported the moves reflected investor relief that a broader war — one that could have cut off Gulf oil flows entirely — was off the table, at least for now.
The deal's reported terms include an immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the U.S. naval blockade. A 60-to-90-day ceasefire is also part of the framework, according to Al-Monitor. Those steps would send a fast signal to energy markets — but only if a final document is actually signed.
Vance Headed to Europe, but Iran Has Not Said Yes
Trump said he cannot attend the signing himself. He plans to celebrate his 80th birthday on June 14 in Washington — including an MMA event on the White House lawn — before flying to the G7 summit in Evian, France, per Forbes. JD Vance would represent the U.S. at any weekend signing ceremony instead.
Key negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been meeting with Iranian and Pakistani representatives to close gaps in the text, Reuters reported. But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's team has cautioned that "no final conclusion" has been reached. Israeli officials told The Times of Israel they were not briefed on any finalized deal and remain focused on eliminating Iran's nuclear program entirely.
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